Dr. Jimmy Ellis is passionate about experiential learning, internships and early career development, and helping students be their best. With nearly two decades of experience in higher education, Jimmy has led strategic planning, program design, and curriculum development at public and private institutions. His strategic direction has expanded experiential learning portfolios to include DC internship programs, undergraduate research, student teaching, and faculty-led experiences in the nation's capital.

At UCDC, Jimmy strongly advocates for a culture of belonging and inclusion, which is crucial for the program’s mission and the community's success. He champions experiential learning as a powerful tool to equip individuals with the skills to address complex challenges and drive positive change. Jimmy is deeply committed to integrating experiential learning principles—learning, reflection, action, and growth—into all aspects of UCDC. He works with talented colleagues to build equitable, sustainable, and joyful pathways from California to DC and bring the city’s vibrancy to students via unsurpassed curricular, internship, and residential experiences that only UCDC can provide.

Before UCDC, Jimmy served as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education at American University, where he led efforts to create a synergistic network of programs, services, and curricula, ensuring exceptional educational experiences for all students. His efforts in reorganizing academic advising over a multi-year period led to the closure of gaps in Black and Hispanic students' self-assessments of belonging and the elimination of retention gaps by race. Jimmy co-created the American University Experience (AUx) courses, a curricular sequence incorporating anti-racist pedagogy and practices. These courses fostered a community of learners ready to engage in meaningful dialogues about diversity, equity, and inclusion. His portfolio at AU also included academic advising, tutoring and academic support, academic coaching, assessment and evaluation, student-athlete support, and student success, retention, and thriving initiatives.

Jimmy holds a PhD in Public Administration and Policy from American University, a Master’s in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University, and a Bachelor’s in Finance and Multinational Business Operations from Florida State University. Growing up, Jimmy moved frequently and has called South Korea, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Hawaii, and Colorado home before moving to Washington, DC in 2011. In his free time, he loves going on adventures with his partner and two kids, watching and playing sports, and spending as much time as possible outdoors.